Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) Benefits

Program Description

The Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) provides education and training opportunities for reservists called to active service after September 10, 2001. REAP provides up to 36 months of education benefits.

Congress ended the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) effective November 25, 2019, through the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015. The law also provides that VA no longer process new applications for REAP as of November 25, 2015.

General Program Requirements

Members of a reserve component who meet the following criteria may be eligible:

You must have been called or ordered to active service after September 10, 2001, in response to a war or national emergency, as declared by the President or Congress.

You must have served a minimum of 90 consecutive days (or any length of time, if you were disabled while on active duty).

After your active duty is completed, you must remain in the same Selected Reserve, National Guard, or Individual Ready Reserve component you were called up from to maintain eligibility. (If you were activated from the Ready Reserve and you decide to enter the Selected Reserve after leaving active duty, this is also acceptable.)

If you leave the Guard/Reserves after you complete your service contract, you must use your benefits within a 10-year eligibility period, which begins on the date you leave.

The Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security determine eligibility.

Your Next Steps

The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this program.

To apply for additional benefits and view your benefit status, open an eBenefits Premium account. eBenefits is a one-stop source for information on Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and services. With a free Premium level eBenefits account, Veterans, Servicemembers and their family members can conduct self-service transactions such as checking claim status information, GI Bill enrollment, and obtaining copies of civil service preference letters, DD214, and other personal information. For further information and to register for a free Premium level account, visit the eBenefits website.